tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-166177152012-01-28T11:19:32.114-06:00A Park for All SeasonsDoug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-18506995349253456892011-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-16T06:00:06.413-06:00

Today is Give to the Max Day for Minnesota nonprofits. All donors contributing funds through the GiveMN.org website are eligible for hourly drawings that add $1,000 to your donation. Please help Way Park as we work toward the completion of the Way Park Master Plan. Visit Friends of Way Park on GiveMN.org or our Donate page now (or any time) to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-70610725430082226602011-10-09T22:35:00.000-05:002011-10-09T22:35:21.202-05:00

This has been an exciting summer in Way Park! Working with the City, we have been able to regrade and seed the south half of the park, build an amphitheater, add paved walkways, and plant 18 maples and oaks donated by Leif Knecht. FWP board member Mary Steen has been documenting the progress over the past two months in this series of photos.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-12388217960569312011-08-30T23:20:00.000-05:002011-08-30T23:20:19.001-05:00

Dozens of park neighbors, along with members of the Friends of Way Park, the Northfield City Council, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, celebrated the beginning of construction in the south half of the park at a ceremonial groundbreaking. Here are a few photos from the event....

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-64247809146128920622011-08-30T14:50:00.000-05:002011-08-30T14:50:30.704-05:00

Please join us at 7:00 this evening in Way Park to celebrate the next phase of development in the south half of the park. In case of rain, bring an umbrella or gather under one of the tents!

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-5179736405366302252011-08-26T13:45:00.001-05:002011-08-27T10:40:39.125-05:00

Construction begins! (Photo by Matt Rohn) If you travel on West Second Street, you’ll see heavy equipment moving dirt around the south end of Way Park. This work will improve the topography, lay paths, prepare rain gardens, and seed grass on a bed of sustaining soil. It marks the next essential step in the realization of the Way Park master plan, making visible years of planning and action

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-33612909631624838712011-06-21T12:52:00.003-05:002011-06-21T14:42:40.987-05:00

The sixth annual Midsommar in Way Park was another smashing success! Thanks to the Sons of Norway, the Northfield Swedish Club, and all the volunteers who made it happen, to the young fiddlers and dancers from the Evergreen School of Performing Arts and the young-at-heart local musicians who made this year's event so special, and to Mark Heiman and Doug Bratland for sharing their photos from the

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-4089340475642425302011-06-19T16:36:00.001-05:002011-06-19T16:51:14.185-05:00

Celebrate the 6th annual Scandinavian Midsommar in Way Park TONIGHT, Sunday, June 19! Informal picnicking, wreath making, and other family-friendly activities begin at 5:30 p.m. Nordic-style hot dogs and waffles will be available for purchase. "The Singing Strings," a youth fiddling group from the Evergreen School of Performing Arts in Edina, will perform at 6:30, followed by a midsommar

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-27440864199500231962011-06-08T21:55:00.000-05:002011-06-08T21:55:24.752-05:00

The Friends of Way Park 2011 Annual Meeting will be next Monday, June 13 at the meeting room of the Northfield Public Library. Please join us to thank our outgoing board members--Chris Ennis, Judy Covey and Jim Holden--and to vote for the 2011-12 slate, including new members Mary Emery and Anne Berry. We will also have on display the most recent landscape architects' plan for the development of

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-28737970665807920872011-05-02T13:47:00.000-05:002011-05-02T13:47:08.817-05:00

This Thursday, May 5th, the city will be hosting an open house on the final plan for the south end of Way Park. The open house will be at St. John's Lutheran Church from 7-9 pm. Postcards were sent to homes only within 300 feet of the park, so many interested residents may not be aware of the meeting. A representative from van der Zalm + associates, the landscape design firm responsible for the

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-33135556441423741352011-04-08T15:14:00.000-05:002011-04-08T15:14:50.214-05:00

Close to 150 Northfielders enjoyed a wonderful Benefit Concert for Way Park Saturday evening, April 2. Andrea Een (violin and viola), Dana Maeda (oboe), and Theo Wee (piano and organ) performed a program of Bach that included ensemble pieces as well as solos, and concluded with all three performers in the Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor. At the reception that followed, concert-goers

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-24956368058695382422011-04-05T17:29:00.000-05:002011-04-05T17:29:20.838-05:00

The landscape architecture firm van der Zalm + Associates has been contracted by the city to design Phase I of the Way Park Master Plan, which includes grading and trails, rain gardens, and amphitheater seating. You can view the latest concept plan by clicking on the image and visit the van der Zalm website to leave comments and recommendations.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-54804275536043568732011-03-22T11:13:00.001-05:002011-03-22T12:59:23.538-05:00

The Friends of Way Park invite you to a special benefit concert for Way Park on Saturday, April 2nd at First United Church of Christ, 300 Union Street in Northfield. The music of Johann Sebastian Bach will be performed by St. Olaf music faculty Andrea Een, violin and viola, Dana Maeda, oboe, and St. Olaf Music Professor Emerita, Theo Wee, organ and piano. Doors will open at 7pm, with music

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-43768898518163244102011-03-13T17:39:00.000-05:002011-03-13T17:39:24.964-05:00

As the snow recedes and a new season arrives, we are more hopeful than ever that by Fall 2011 we will see a graded and seeded south end of Way Park, the beginnings of a rain garden, and possibly additional plantings! The Northfield City Council recently approved hiring a landscape design firm, van der Zalm + associates, and on February 28 the firm presented their initial design at an Open House

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-79043765064154208492011-02-17T18:28:00.000-06:002011-02-17T18:28:41.985-06:00

This week's extreme warm-up has forced us to cancel Saturday's scheduled "Full Moon Fire & Skate." Stay tuned for more news and upcoming events in your Park For All Seasons (except for abrubptly-changing ones).

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-5198066838255912832011-02-12T14:22:00.002-06:002011-02-17T18:31:05.901-06:00

[Update: Please do NOT...] Gather together your friends and neighbors and head to Way Park on Saturday, February 19 for the Full Moon Fire & Skate! The event will [NOT] take place from 5:30-7 pm (weather permitting) and will [NOT] feature refreshments (hot cocoa, popcorn, popcorn balls, and cider) and a variety of winter activities. There will [NOT] be music, firepits, and luminarias, with

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-21039712558879857262011-02-07T19:45:00.002-06:002011-02-07T19:45:39.381-06:00

This has been a great winter for skating on the Way Park rink. It is busy after school and at night, on vacation days and weekends, with parents and kids playing pick-up hockey games, tykes pushing chairs for balance, teens practicing figure eights, grandparents on foot escorting beginning skaters, and college students arriving to play broomball. Friendly cooperation (hockey games are often

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-83784803236498068352010-10-19T16:18:00.003-05:002010-10-26T11:18:08.127-05:00

An estimated 300 people turned out for the first-ever Way Park Fall Festival on Saturday evening, and all signs are pointing toward it becoming an annual event. The weather was perfect; the face-painter was busy right up until 8 p.m.; the St. Olaf drummers kept up the sort of background rhythm that made it feel as though there was something happening; some tiny girls learned new dance steps;

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-64718729702626295172010-10-09T23:23:00.000-05:002010-10-09T23:23:56.293-05:00

Join your neighbors and friends for a festive fall gathering in Northfield's Way Park this Saturday, October 16. Bring a carved pumpkin to adorn the park's historic stone wall, enjoy hot apple cider, caramel apples, and pumpkin treats, and gather from 6-8pm for music and dancing with Ting Ting Yang, face painting by Sharon Henry, and storytelling from Joseph Mbele. Don't miss the lighting of

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-2882196243471184102010-06-26T16:21:00.000-05:002010-06-26T16:21:58.693-05:00

Summer 2010 is off to a smashing start in Way Park, with a glorious Midsommar celebration and a surprisingly rain-free Books & Stars with the Mu Daiko Drums. And we've still got a full slate of family-friendly festivities happening here on Northfield's beautiful West Side in July and August. The Library's Books & Stars program returns to Way Park on July 21 with the Splatter Sisters. And you'll

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-49970617741240116192010-06-22T16:24:00.001-05:002010-06-22T16:25:24.454-05:00

The Friends of Way Park board will hold our IRS-required annual meeting this Saturday, June 26 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Northfield Public Library. Please join us in the lower level meeting room, near the Division Street entrance. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-21109610336588114422010-06-21T17:31:00.000-05:002010-06-21T17:31:09.734-05:00

It was another gorgeous Midsommar in Way Park! Thanks to photographers Mark Heiman and Joannie Johnson for sharing their photos from last night's celebration. If you have your own images to share, you can email them to pictures@northfield.org and we'll make sure they're added to the gallery.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-13108231341403262812010-06-15T10:44:00.001-05:002010-06-15T10:44:51.922-05:00

Celebrate Scandinavian midsommar in Way Park on the evening of Sunday, June 20. Informal picnicking, wreath making and other family-friendly activities begin at 5 p.m. Festivities will include a midsommar processional, followed by raising of the maistang (maypole), songs and dances, games, and more. Live Nordic music will be provided by Hütenänny and friends. In case of rain, the celebration will

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-48895886707204580932010-05-25T09:42:00.001-05:002010-05-25T15:34:49.022-05:00

Northfield.org has run a three-part story on Way Park, based on conversations with park neighbor David Sudermann, who has done extensive research on the park's history. The piece was written by Maia Rodriguez, a Carleton College senior working as a student journalist for the local blog. The History of Northfield's Way Park (Part One)  More on the History of Way Park The Future of Way Park 

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-81021525299982446822009-10-15T10:17:00.004-05:002009-10-15T10:35:29.555-05:00

The Friends of Way Park invite you to a Benefit Concert this Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 pm at First United Church of Christ, 300 Union Street. Music of Johann Sebastian Bach will be performed by Andrea Een, violin and viola, and Theo Wee, organ and piano.West First Street has been recently closed through Way Park, creating a large contiguous park for the first time since the early 1930's, when the

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-47717087218383896312009-09-30T10:50:00.004-05:002009-09-30T10:55:25.201-05:00

The Friends of Way Park invite you to enjoy a great meal for a great cause. Please join your friends and neighbors at the Eagles Club on Saturday, October 3 to raise funds to help realize development of Way Park.Dinner will be served from 5-7:30pm. and includes spaghetti with meat or meatless sauce, garlic breadsticks, salad, and coffee. A dessert table will be full of additional treats

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-27900887618026058112009-05-28T11:53:00.006-05:002010-06-15T10:41:43.279-05:00

Join us for a Scandinavian midsommar celebration in Way Park on the evening of Sunday, June 21. Informal picnicking, wreath making and other kid-friendly crafts begin at 6 p.m. Festivities will include a midsommar processional at 7 pm, followed by raising of the maistang (maypole), dancing, games, crafts and a bonfire. Live Nordic music will be provided by Hütenänny and friends. Hot dogs, ice

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-88342821281662639402008-07-01T15:31:00.002-05:002008-07-01T15:46:01.012-05:00

Midsommar 2008 was a spectacular event, with a crisp, sunny day and hundreds (estimates are that there were as many as 400 people in the park!) of happy, flower-wearing revelers. You can see for yourself in these fabulous photo galleries...Doug Bratland's slideshow (61 photos)Miriam Mueller's slideshow (133 photos)There are also smaller galleries from the previous celebrations in 2007 and 2005.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-53007435437018861072008-06-20T15:22:00.003-05:002008-06-20T15:30:09.019-05:00

Things are coming together for Sunday's midsummer celebration in Way Park. The weather report is still looking good! (St. John's is the rain site.) Here's a loose schedule of events for the evening...6 pm -- Activities and crafts begin. (This is your chance to make a flower wreath to wear in the processional.) Informal picnicking. Hot dogs and ice cream available for sale.6:15 -- Musicians gather

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-17551063459292561842008-06-12T21:37:00.002-05:002008-06-12T21:49:40.434-05:00

The Northfield Public Library's ever-popular Books & Stars program comes to Way Park on Wednesday, June 25. Booker the Book Bus opens at 6:30 p.m. with library materials for all ages. At 7 p.m. "comedy juggler" Dave Walbridge will entertain with his "Big Fun Show!" And Northfield's Cocoa Bean will be on hand to sell its famous Hawaiian Shaved Ice (with profits donated to Booker).

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-79544411945065149702008-06-11T21:38:00.005-05:002008-06-12T21:39:59.195-05:00

Celebrate midsommar in Scandinavian style on Sunday, June 22! Activities begin at 6 p.m. with a processional march and maypole raising, followed by music, dancing, games and a bonfire!Tiny's hot dogs (Nordic or American style) and Sweet Pea's ice cream treats will be available for purchase. In the event of rain, we'll gather at St. John's Lutheran Church.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-47558619910449648232008-05-24T21:16:00.003-05:002008-06-12T21:40:26.710-05:00

Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Join your neighbors for the best bargain hunt to hit Northfield's west side in years...the Way Park Neighborhood Garage Sales!Each host will determine the percentage of sales that will benefit Way Park. Maps showing sale sites will be available at the north end of the park starting at 8:30 a.m. the day of the sale.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-66023978825442531792008-03-25T21:58:00.006-05:002008-03-31T19:33:52.695-05:00

5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Northfield Eagles ClubThe Friends of Way Park welcome all to a pasta dinner at the Northfield Eagles Club on Saturday, April 5 to raise funds to help the city realize development of the new Way Park plan. Dinner is served from 5-8 p.m. and includes spaghetti with meat or meatless sauce, garlic breadsticks, salad, and coffee. A dessert table will be full of additional

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1154665177467217432006-08-03T23:12:00.000-05:002006-08-04T10:29:26.736-05:00

The City of Northfield presented a public forum to review designs for Way Park last night at the Community Resource Center. About 50 citizens attended, most of whom were residents of the park's west side neighborhood.After comments from a few city officials, landscape architect and Park Board member Spencer Jones presented four different designs for the park. The plans were greeted with

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1147318684537190362006-05-10T22:36:00.000-05:002006-05-10T22:42:33.053-05:00

Sorry for the long hiatus...I'm sure both(!) of our loyal readers are disappointed in the lack of news reported in this space.Anyway, there's been a flurry of activity on the Way Park front lately. We had our annual meeting on April 27, which was nicely documented by Michelle Kubitz at the Northfield News.At the meeting we elected our first slate of official officers as a 501c3 non-profit

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1129517620329880102005-10-16T21:36:00.000-05:002005-10-16T21:55:37.096-05:00

Saturday night's folktale event was a huge success! Over 150 people came out on a gorgeous, crisp, moonlit evening and enjoyed the African stories and rhythms, the bonfires, the refreshments, and the chance to visit with friends and neighbors in our beautiful park. Alex Beeby posted a nice little article about the event on Northfield.org, where you can also view a few photos of the evening.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1129174337235117132005-10-12T22:33:00.000-05:002005-10-14T08:43:19.336-05:00

An evening of African folktales will begin at 7pm this Saturday, October 15, in Way Park. Join us for popcorn and hot cider under an almost-full moon as Joseph Mbele, St. Olaf professor and author, tells tales from his native Tanzania and the African Drum Ensemble of Carleton College performs between stories.Bring the whole family to this exciting night, and bring a lawn chair or blanket to set

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1128536773371565762005-10-05T13:19:00.000-05:002005-10-05T13:27:54.630-05:00

Please join us at our next Friends of Way Park meeting. We'll be gathering at 9:30am this Saturday, October 8, in room 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Everyone is welcome!

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1127447863077235392005-09-23T07:33:00.000-05:002005-09-22T23:05:12.576-05:00

For those of you who enjoyed the option of downloading the FWP newsletter, have we got a deal for you! The Way Park Survey is here, ready for downloading at the click of your mouse, in handy PDF format! Print it out, fill it out and mail it in.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1127334135659426602005-09-21T21:14:00.000-05:002005-09-22T10:26:42.320-05:00

A landscape plan from the late 1930s showed Way Park as a garden or strolling park, tying together both the north and south halves of the park with paths, benches, a fireplace and a sunken garden. What features would you include if YOU were designing a park? We're seeking your input to help guide the vision of Way Park into a reality for future generations of Northfielders.The poster pictured

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1126492353353695862005-09-17T13:52:00.000-05:002005-09-22T23:00:22.196-05:00

The Fall FWP newsletter will be sent out in the mail any day now, along with a survey designed to gather suggestions for park design and amenities from interested friends and neighbors. Watch your mailbox, and please take the time to share your ideas with us!A PDF of the newsletter is also available, if you prefer your news in electronic format.If you're not on our mailing list (and would like to

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16617715.post-1126463859433393272005-09-11T21:50:00.000-05:002005-09-20T09:57:04.106-05:00

Welcome to the Friends of Way Park Website. This space will be updated on an occasional basis, whenever there is news to share about the Park. We welcome your input and suggestions! Please send them via email to friendsofwaypark@gmail.com.

Doug B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04499381924736260011noreply@blogger.com0